[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," ETHICS REFORM HEATS UP IN ALBANY, BUT WILL THINGS ACTUALLY CHANGE?

WE'LL TELL YOU MORE.

THEN WE'LL CHECK IN WITH CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN, THE PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR, ON HIS VISION FOR NEW YORK AND HIS RECORD IN CONGRESS.

AND LATER, THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT IS OUT THE DOOR.

DARRELL CAMP HAS DETAILS.

PLUS, AN UPDATE ON THE AG'S INVESTIGATION INTO GOVERNOR CUOMO AND THE NEWS OF THE WEEK WITH KATE LISA FROM JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS RYAN TARANELLI FROM THE NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL.

I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M DAN CLARK.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ON THIS SHOW ABOUT ETHICS AND CORRUPTION IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

IT'S A PROBLEM THAT FEELS ALMOST SYSTEMIC IN NEW YORK WITH TOP LAWMAKERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT OR INDICTED IN WHAT FEELS LIKE EVERY OTHER YEAR.

LAWMAKERS HAVE TRIED IN THE PAST TO FIX THAT, PASSING STRICTER ETHICS LAWS AND STRONGER OVERSIGHT, BUT LIKE MANY THINGS IN ALBANY, ETHICS CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM AND NOW LAWMAKERS SAY THEY'RE TAKING NEW STEPS TOWARD WHAT COULD BE REAL REFORM.

TAKE A LOOK.

NEW YORK IS NOTORIOUS FOR ITS SPOTTY RECORD ON PUBLIC ETHICS.

MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, IT WAS HOME TO THE INFAMOUSLY CORRUPT TAMMANY HALL AND IN THE PAST DECADE, WE SAW BOTH THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER AND THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GO TO PRISON ON CHARGES OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION.

SO OUR TRACK RECORD ISN'T GREAT.

SENATE ETHICS CHAIR ALESSANDRA BIAGGI.

>> NEW YORK STATE HAS A D MINUS WHEN IT COMES TO ETHICS.

THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

I AM EMBARRASSED BY THAT.

I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED BY THAT.

>> THAT GRADE IS FROM THE CENTER OF PUBLIC INTEGRITY, A NONPROFIT NEWS GROUP, AND DEMOCRATS ARE NOW CONSIDERING AN ETHICS OVERHAUL IN NEW YORK.

BUT LAWMAKERS HIT A SNAG IN THAT PROCESS THIS WEEK.

THEY WERE SCHEDULED TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON ETHICS REFORM BUT HAD TO POSTPONE DAY OF.

THAT WAS IRONICALLY BECAUSE OF A POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH THE STATE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, WHICH COULD HAVE MADE THE HEARING ILLEGAL.

BIAGGI AGAIN.

>> IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION TODAY THAT IF THERE WAS A QUORUM OF ETHICS COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE IN PERSON.

WELL, NOT EVERY ETHICS COMMITTEE PERSON IS HERE TODAY, AND SO THAT'S WHY, AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S PERFECT.

>> THE HEARING IS SET TO BE RESCHEDULED SOMETIME SOON.

IT'S EXPECTED TO BE ONE TO WATCH.

LAWMAKERS HAVE FACED PRESSURE THIS YEAR TO BOLSTER THE STATE'S ETHICS LAWS AFTER NEW QUESTIONS EMERGED ON THE JOINT COMMISSION ON PUBLIC ETHICS, OR JCOPE, THE STATE'S ETHICS AGENCY.

REPORTS IN RECENT MONTHS HAVE ALLEGED LEAKS FROM THE COMMISSION'S PRIVATE MEETINGS AND JCOPE HAS LARGELY BEEN SILENT ON CLAIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT MADE THIS YEAR AGAINST GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO AND QUESTIONS SURROUND HIS PANDEMIC MEMOIR.

CUOMO HAS DENIED ANY WRONGDOING BUT LAWMAKERS STILL WANT TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THE HEAD OF JCOPE, WHO IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY WHEN THE HEARINGS ARE RESCHEDULED.

SENATOR ANTHONY PALUMBO IS HIGHEST RANKING MEMBER ON THE ETHICS COMMITTEE >> THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR HIM, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR?

OR, THEY'RE TOO BUSY OR SOMETHING ELSE?

>> WHILE THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CUOMO ARE NEW, CONCERNS OVER JCOPE ARE NOT.

SOME LAWMAKERS WANT TO SCRAP JCOPE ALTOGETHER AND START OVER WITH A NEW STATE ETHICS AGENCY AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT GOOD GOVERNMENT WANT AS WELL.

THEY SAY THAT WHEN CUOMO AND LAWMAKERS CREATED JCOPE IN 2011, IT WASN'T SET UP TO BE TRULY INDEPENDENT OR EFFECTIVE.

BLAIR HORNER FROM THE NEW YORK PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP IS ONE OF THOSE ADVOCATES.

>> AND THE ONLY WAY THE PUBLIC CAN SUPPORT ETHICS OVERSIGHT IS IF IT'S INDEPENDENT.

THIS ISN'T.

THIS IS CLEARLY THE REFLECTION OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS NOT THE PUBLIC'S BEST INTEREST, AND WE THINK THAT‑‑ THE AGENCY HAS TO GO.

>> THE SENATE DID APPROVE LEGISLATION THIS YEAR THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW MEMBERS OF JCOPE ARE APPOINTED, ALTERING THEIR VOTING STRUCTURE AND MORE.

BUT THE ASSEMBLY DIDN'T TAKE UP THE BILL.

BIAGGI SAYS SHE'S HOPING TO PARTNER WITH THE ASSEMBLY ON THAT BILL AND MORE.

>> THE MORE LEGISLATORS THAT ARE A PART OF THIS PROCESS, THE MORE LIKELY WE WILL ACTUALLY BE TO PASS LAWS THAT MAKE JCOPE STRONGER AND ALSO MAKE ETHICS BETTER.

>> JCOPE ISN'T JUST RESPONSIBLE FOR CASES OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION.

THE COMMISSION ALSO HANDLES CLAIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

ADVOCATES SAY THAT'S ANOTHER AREA WHERE JCOPE HAS FALLEN SHORT.

ERICA VLADIMIR FILED A REPORT WITH THE COMMISSION AFTER THEN‑SENATOR JEFF KLEIN WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE FORCIBLY KISSED HER.

THAT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO AND SO FAR, THAT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED.

NOW, SHE'S PART OF THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT WORKING GROUP, A GROUP OF FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFERS WHO PUSH FOR STRONGER ANTI‑HARASSMENT LAWS IN NEW YORK.

>> WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT POWER ABUSE OFTEN MEANS SUBJECTING PEOPLE TO SACRIFICING THEIR DIGNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WHATEVER ETHICS BODY OR ETHICS SYSTEM THAT'S GOING TO TAKE THE PLACE OF JCOPE, THE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION, THE I.G., IS GOING TO BE FULLY EQUIPPED AND PREPARED AND PROFESSIONALIZED AND HAS THE EXPERTISE TO HANDLE HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION CASES.

>> AND UNLIKE OTHER ISSUES IN ALBANY, THIS ONE CONSISTENTLY CROSSES PARTY LINES.

WHILE DEMOCRATS CONSIDER AN OVERHAUL OF THE AGENCY, REPUBLICANS ARE ONBOARD FOR CHANGE AS WELL.

HERE'S PALUMBO AGAIN.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, IN THEORY, MAKES SENSE BUT IN PRACTICAL EFFECT, IT'S BEEN A DISASTER, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE ACTUAL PRODUCT OF JCOPE COME TO FRUITION.

>> BUT CHANGE IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN FLOATED TO CHANGE JCOPE IN RECENT YEARS BUT FEW HAVE PASSED.

BIAGGI SAYS SHE'S HOPING THAT CHANGES WHEN LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THE STATE CAPITOL IN JANUARY.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT NEW YORK STATE IS GOING TO BECOME LIKE AN ETHICAL UTOPIA IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS UNFORTUNATELY.

LIKE, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THESE THINGS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND IN A STATEMENT, A SPOKESPERSON FOR JCOPE ESSENTIALLY PLACED THE BLAME ON LAWMAKERS SAYING, QUOTE, WE HAVE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS TO STRENGTHEN OUR ENFORCEMENT POWERS, CLARIFY OUR JURISDICTION AND ALLOW US TO BE MORE OPEN IN DISCLOSING OUR INVESTIGATIVE AND ENFORCEMENT WORK.

THE LEGISLATURE, HOWEVER, HAS GENERALLY NOT ACTED ON ANY OF THOSE PROPOSALS.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LAWMAKERS RESCHEDULED THAT HEARING.

IN THE MEANTIME, GOVERNOR CUOMO TEAMED UP THIS WEEK WITH ERIC ADAMS, WHO'S LIKELY TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY AFTER WINNING THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY THIS MONTH.

AND WHILE THE EVENT WAS ABOUT CRIME, ADAMS ALSO TOOK A BEAT TO PUSH BACK ON CRITICS WHO SAY HE'S NOT A PROGRESSIVE.

>> POLICE REFORM, TESTIFYING IN FEDERAL COURT, TO DO SO, EQUALITY IN OUR CLASSROOMS, ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT WE LOOK AT, WE'VE ALLOWED THE TERM BEING PROGRESSIVE TO BE HIJACKED BY THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF PUTTING IN PLACE REAL PROGRESSIVE CHANGES, AND I AM NOT GOING TO SURRENDER MY PROGRESSIVE CREDENTIALS.

>> THE QUESTION IS, WILL THIS ALLIANCE BETWEEN CUOMO AND ADAMS LAST?

AND HOW WILL ALL THIS BE IMPACTED BY THE MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS INTO GOVERNOR CUOMO, WHICH WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON, BY THE WAY?

LET'S DISCUSS WITH KATE LISA WITH JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS AND RYAN TARANELLI FROM THE NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I WANT TO GO TO YOU FIRST.

CUOMO AND ADAMS ARE FORMING A PARTNERSHIP UNLIKE THE ONE WE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE CURRENT MAYOR, BILL DI BLASIO.

WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU ABOUT THIS EVENT?

>> I THINK THIS EVENT, A BIG PLATFORM.

MR. ADAMS IS COMING OFF THIS WIN.

HE'S GOING TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

THIS WAS REALLY THEM KIND OF TRYING TO NARROW THEIR MESSAGE ON THE HIGH‑PROFILE TOPIC.

IT DID SEEM THAT GOVERNOR CUOMO WAS TRYING TO BOLSTER HIS PUBLIC IMAGE WITH THE RISING STAR OF MR. ADAMS.

SO I THINK THAT WAS DEFINITELY AT PLAY.

CUOMO TRYING TO SHORE UP HIS POLITICAL SUPPORT AS HE ANSWERS AND AS HE CONTINUES THROUGH THIS REALLY TURBULENT PROCESS AND HAS TENURE AS GOVERNOR.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BECAUSE WE SAW HIM STAND WITH ERIC ADAMS AND THEN ABOUT AN HOUR LATER WE SAW HIM STAND WITH A BUNCH OF LAWMAKERS INCLUDING DIANA RICHARDSON, ASSEMBLYWOMAN, AND SENATOR ZELLNOR MYRIE, AND WE SAW ASSEMBLYMEMBER RICHARDSON BE ASKED BY A REPORTER, HOW CAN YOU STAND WITH THE GOVERNOR AFTER YOU ASKED HIM TO RESIGN A MONTHS AGO?

SHE CALLED THAT INAPPROPRIATE.

HOW DID YOU TAKE THAT?

>> CERTAINLY, IT WAS A AN APPROPRIATE QUESTION.

WHEN POLITICIANS TAKE PUBLIC STANCES AND THEN APPEAR TO GO IN CONFLICT WITH THEIR PUBLIC STANCES AND REPORTERS CAN QUESTION THEM ON THAT.

TO THE LARGER POINT IS REALLY, THIS IS A TACTIC THAT THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM IS SUPPOSEDLY GOING FORWARD WITH, WHICH IS TO BOLSTER SUPPORT, APPEARING WITH LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY CALLED FOR HIS RESIGNATION.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, ANDREA STEWART‑COUSINS, FOR EXAMPLE, SO THIS IS A‑‑ IT SEEMS TO BE A TACTIC, A BOLSTERING OF SUPPORT SHOWING.

ONE OF THE MAIN CRITICISMS AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION IS THAT HE'S LOST THE CONFIDENCE OF BEING ABLE TO WORK GOVERNMENT BASICALLY.

>> RIGHT.

>> TO BE ABLE TO RUN GOVERNMENT.

APPEARING WITH LEADERS FROM HIS OWN PARTY SEEMS TO GO AGAINST THAT ARGUMENT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE AIMING TOWARDS.

ALSO‑‑ AND ALSO TO THE POINT ABOUT ERIC ADAMS AND I OFTEN GET ASKED, WHY IS THIS RELATIONSHIP SO IMPORTANT?

WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT THIS?

IT'S BECAUSE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR IMPACTS NEW YORKERS ON EVERY SINGLE LEVEL.

CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY DURING NORMAL TIMES BUT EVEN MORE SO WITH THE PANDEMIC AND WHEN THINGS CLOSE AND WHEN THEY DON'T CLOSE.

SO IT REALLY IMPACTS NEW YORKERS AND THE DECISIONS THAT THESE TWO MEN MAKE TOGETHER WILL IMPACT THINGS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE FOCUS ON THIS RELATIONSHIP SO MUCH.

>> EXACTLY.

I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THAT IMPACTS WHAT DOWN THE LINE HAPPENS WITH THE GOVERNOR IN TERMS OF THE AG'S REPORT, THE AG'S INVESTIGATING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AGAINST THE GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW.

THE ASSEMBLY HAS ITS OWN IMPEACHMENT PROBE AND WE FOUND THIS WEEK THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL BE QUESTIONED THIS WEEKEND ON HIS ROLE ON THAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT PROBE.

IN OTHER WORDS, HE WILL BE ASKED ABOUT THE FACTS THAT THE VARIOUS WOMEN ALLEGED AGAINST HIM.

WHAT ARE WE EXPECTING OUT OF THIS?

DO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS?

>> NO.

I GUESS WE DON'T.

THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THE THING HERE IS THAT FOR MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN WAITING TO SEE ALL THESE DIFFERENT INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING FORWARD AT ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE GOVERNOR.

THERE'S BEEN NO TIME LINE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATORS ARE VERY TIGHT‑LIPPED ABOUT WHAT THE INVESTIGATION ENTAILS AND HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE SO SOME REPORTS HAVE SAID THAT MAYBE THIS INDICATES THAT THE AG IS GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF HER INVESTIGATION, BUT WHO IS TO SAY.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WILL PUT THINGS THAT SHE'S INVESTIGATING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR TOGETHER, BUT I THINK ACTUALLY GOING BACK TO THE‑‑ THAT'S WHY‑‑ THAT'S WHY THE QUESTION WAS SO IMPORTANT TO THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER YESTERDAY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YES, THE PRESS CONFERENCES WERE ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND THE ONGOING ISSUE THERE, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT, BUT ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO NEW YORKERS AND THAT'S WHY OPEN PRESS CONFERENCES ARE IMPORTANT SO THAT‑‑ AND THAT WAS THE SECOND OF THE DAY.

SO YOU KNOW, WHICH WAS RARE.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT KIND OF CHANCE FOR PRESS TO BE ABLE TO ASK THE GOVERNOR QUESTIONS IN PERSON.

ONCE IN A DAY AND THEN TWICE.

>> AND IN ALBANY FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS.

>> RIGHT.

AT LEAST.

IT WASN'T AN INAPPROPRIATE QUESTION BUT ESPECIALLY I THINK THAT WAS A CHANCE FOR EVEN A LAWMAKER TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER RIGHT NOW AND TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC AND WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THE INVESTIGATION AND HOW IT UNFOLDS AND OBVIOUSLY, THE JOB IS BEING DONE AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THIS WEEKEND.

>> RYAN, GO AHEAD.

>> I THINK, TOO, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE AG'S REPORT ARE VERY HIGH.

>> YES.

>> THIS IS AN INVESTIGATION WHERE ACCUSERS, THEIR ATTORNEYS, YOU KNOW, CRITICS OF CUOMO HAVE SAID WE BELIEVE IN THE PROCESS AND WE BELIEVE IN THE BACKGROUNDS OF THESE TWO OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS WHO ARE DOING THE INVESTIGATION.

SO THIS IS REALLY THE INVESTIGATION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT INTO.

AS OPPOSED TO THE IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION.

>> EXACTLY.

AND I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE AG'S REPORT IF IT'S RELEASED BEFORE THE IMPEACHMENT'S INVESTIGATION REPORT AND WHETHER THAT DRIVES THE ASSEMBLY TO ACT QUICKER THAN THEY ARE CURRENTLY.

ASSUMING THE AG'S REPORT COMES OUT FIRST.

WE DO HAVE TO LIVE IT THERE.

RYAN TARANELLI FROM THE NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL AND KATE LISA FROM JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS.

THANK YOU.

>> THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR HERE IN NEW YORK AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR.

GOVERNOR CUOMO IS PLANNING TO RUN AGAIN, AS OF NOW, BUT THAT COULD CHANGE.

AND REPUBLICANS SAY THEY'VE GOT A STRATEGY TO WIN REGARDLESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

THAT INCLUDES CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN WHO WAS PICKED AS THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR BY COUNTY CHAIRS THIS MONTH.

HE STOPPED BY EARLIER THIS WEEK TO CHECK UP ON HIS CAMPAIGN, HIS RECORD IN CONGRESS AND MORE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN CRISS‑CROSSING THE STATE SINCE YOU ANNOUNCED YOUR CANDIDACY.

IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS.

YOU WERE THE FIRST PERSON TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR.

TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM VOTERS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHILE YOU'RE OUT THERE.

WHAT ARE THEIR CONCERNS?

WHAT ARE THEY TELLING YOU?

>> NEW YORKERS ARE TALKING ABOUT THEIR BREAKING POINT.

THEY ARE TALKING AND HOW THEY'RE CONSIDERING LEAVING OUR STATE.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE A VOICE AND REPRESENTATION IN OUR STATE CAPITOL.

IT'S COMING FROM ALL OVER NEW YORK.

IT'S COMING FROM NEW YORKERS OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND THE COST OF LIVING, PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE NEED TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT MORE.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THEIR KIDS' EDUCATION, THE WAY THAT RESTRICTIONS CAME FROM THE STATE CAPITOL AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE GOING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR, HIMSELF, AND HOW THEY FEEL LIKE HE'S BEEN THERE TOO LONG AND IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO GO.

THEY ARE VERY MUCH PERSONALIZING THIS ELECTION EMOTIONALLY, PASSIONATELY WITH HUNGER, AND I NOTICED VERY EARLY ON IT WAS LAST STANDISH IN A WAY WHERE THEY REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO DO THEIR PART UNDERSTANDING FULLY THE STAKES IF THEY'RE COMPLACENT.

>> THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING ELECTION.

BECAUSE GOVERNOR CUOMO WOULD BE GOING TO A FOURTH TERM.

THAT WOULD BE UNPRECEDENTED IN THE STATE.

IF YOU WERE TO BECOME THE GOVERNOR, WOULD YOU HAVE TO GET VOTES INTEREST PEOPLE ACROSS THE AISLE BECAUSE WE HAVE DEMOCRATS OUTNUMBERING REPUBLICANS REGISTERED.

WHAT'S YOUR PLAN TO GET THE MODERATES, INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS ASSUMING YOU ARE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE.

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, I NEVER PAINT ALL OF ONE PARTY WITH ONE BROAD BRUSH.

SO UNDERSTANDING THAT WHERE YOU ARE IN THE STATE, SOME DEMOCRATS FEEL LIKE THEIR PARTY HAS LEFT THEM.

SOME DEMOCRATS ARE PROUD TO BE DEMOCRATS BUT THEY FEEL LIKEN AD DREW CUOMO'S BEEN THERE TOO LONG AND IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO GO.

I SUPPORT TERM LIMITS.

I WOULD CALL ON THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO TERM LIMIT ME TO TWO TERMS AND EVEN IF THEY DON'T TERM LIMIT ME, I STILL WOULDN'T WANT TO RUN FOR A THIRD TERM.

IT'S A BAD IDEA.

THIS GOVERNOR IS IN HIS THIRD TERM SHOWING US WHY.

I BELIEVE THERE ARE DEMOCRATS AND SOME ARE MORE LIBERAL AND OTHERS CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE MODERATE AND SOME CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE CONSERVATIVE AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PRIORITY ISSUES.

YOU MIGHT TALK TO ONE DEMOCRAT IN NEW YORK CITY WHO MIGHT BE A STRONG SUPPORTER OF DEFUND THE POLICE MOVEMENT AND THEIR NEIGHBOR IS A DEMOCRAT, ACTIVE DEMOCRAT, PROUD DEMOCRAT VOTER, BUT THEY BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE REVERSING CASHLESS BAIL, KEEPING QUALIFIED IMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT MORE.

EDUCATION, THERE ARE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO FEEL STRONGLY THAT OUR KIDS WHEN THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO GET THE VACCINE.

THEY BELIEVE THEY SHOULDN'T BE REQUIRED TO BE MASKED UP.

THERE IS STRONG SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.

I SUPPORT TAX CREDITS FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.

I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE GETTING RID OF ADVANCED ACADEMICS IN THE NAME OF EQUITY.

SO WHEN YOU TALK TO A DEMOCRAT VOTER, YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE THEM ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO THEM AND HAVE A QUALITY SUBSTANTIVE, MEANINGFUL ONE‑ON‑ONE CONVERSATION.

YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD.

YOU CAN TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED AND YOU HAVE TO BE ACCESSIBLE.

THAT'S WHY I HAVE BEEN TO ALL THE COUNTIES IN NEW YORK STATE.

I'M TRAVELING AROUND AGAIN.

I'M ON THE ROAD RIGHT NOW.

I WILL BE BACK ON THE ROAD AS WE GET INTO NEXT WEEKEND, AND WE'RE NOT TAKING ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.

YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO EARN SUPPORT AND YOU CAN'T JUST ASSUME IT.

>> RIGHT.

YOU HAVE BEEN EVERYWHERE.

YOU HAVE BEEN GOING ACROSS THE STATE.

AS YOU MAKE THAT JOURNEY ACROSS THE STATE, TOP DEMOCRATS EVERY TIME THAT THEY MENTION YOU, THEY IMMEDIATELY GO TO YOUR ALLIANCE WITH FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, YOUR CONSERVATIVE VOTING RECORD IN CONGRESS AND OF COURSE, YOUR VOTE AGAINST CERTIFYING THE ELECTION RESULTS IN JANUARY.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN THAT.

WHY WAS THAT THE RIGHT MOVE TO DO AT THE TIME?

>> FIRST OFF, EVERY SINGLE TIME THERE'S BEEN A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL WIN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW DECADES, THERE'S BEEN OBJECTIONS FILED BY HOUSE DEMOCRATS.

THIS ISN'T SOME NEW THING THAT TOOK PLACE.

WHEN I TALK TO VOTERS AND ASKED THEM WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO YOU, THEY'RE TALKING TO ME ABOUT WANTING‑‑ THEY WANT A GOVERNOR WHO WILL FIGHT FOR THEIR WALLETS, FOR THEIR SAFETY AND THEIR FREEDOMS.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT LEAVING NEW YORK STATE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN POSSIBLY DO ABOUT IT ON ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST.

YOU TALK TO A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE STATE AND A LOCAL JOB CREATOR ASKED THEM, WHAT THEY WANT TO TALK‑‑ WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO BE TALKING ABOUT?

THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE INABILITY TO GET WORKFORCE TO COME IN.

I WAS‑‑ I SAY ALL ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE HELP WANTED SIGNS.

NOT BECAUSE THERE ISN'T AN AVAILABLE WORKER IN THEIR COMMUNITY BUT THAT AVAILABLE WORKER IS SAYING HEY, LISTEN, I'M GETTING PAID MORE NOT TO TAKE THAT JOB.

THAT'S HAVING A REAL IMPACT.

I PERSONALLY BELIEVE AS IT RELATES TO ELECTIONS THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ENGAGING WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT ELECTION INTEGRITY.

WE SHOULD FIND WAYS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO VOTE, TO MAKE IT HARDER TO CHEAT.

IN NEW YORK STATE, WE HAVE ACTUALLY A LOT OF DIFFERENT VOTER LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS THAT YOU WOULD SAY ARE ACTUALLY STRICTER THAN WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND IN OTHER STATES AND WE HAVE CENSURE VERIFICATION.

YOU CAN HAVE POLL WATCHERS WHEN YOU VOTE.

YOU CAN CLOSELY OBSERVE THE OPENING OF BALLOTS.

YOU CAN SUBMIT AN OBJECTION AND IF YOU WANT TO STICK TO THAT OBJECTION, THAT BALLOT WON'T GET COUNTED UNTIL IT GETS IN FRONT OF A JUDGE.

WE SHOULD, REGARDLESS OF OUTCOME, WHETHER YOUR CANDIDATE COMES IN FIRST OR SECOND, ALWAYS HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS PROCESS BETTER.

I HAVE LONG BEEN SOMEBODY WHO BELIEVES GREATLY IN ELECTION INTEGRITY AND I THINK THAT YOU'LL ACTUALLY HAVE MORE TRUST IN THE PROCESS BY WELCOMING THAT CONVERSATION REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOUR CANDIDATE COMES IN FIRST OR SECOND.

>> SO IS THAT VOTE A STANCE OF YOU SAYING THAT YOU WANT TO IMPROVE ELECTION INTEGRITY NATIONWIDE, OR WAS IT YOU SAYING THAT YOU DIDN'T TRUST THE ELECTION RESULTS?

>> WELL, MOST SPECIFICALLY, THE ISSUE THAT I HAD WITH REGARD TO WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020 WAS BECAUSE WE HAD A PANDEMIC AND THEN IN THE PANDEMIC YOU HAD NON‑LEGISLATIVE ACTORS MAKING CHANGES TO HOW THEIR ELECTIONS WERE ADMINISTERED.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO IF YOU WERE THE STATE‑‑ SECRETARY OF STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ENTERING INTO A FRIENDLY LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WITHOUT GOING AND ASKING THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR APPROVAL, THEY CHANGED THE WAY THAT THE ELECTION WAS ADMINISTERED.

IN WISCONSIN, YOU HAD A COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICIAL WHO IS TELLING THE VOTERS IN THEIR COUNTY HOW TO GET AROUND THE VOTER I.D.

LAW AND THE CENSURE VERIFICATION LAW IN THAT PARTICULAR COUNTY.

FOR ME‑‑ AND THIS IS IN THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

STATE LEGISLATURES SET HOW THESE ELECTIONS SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED AND IN THE NAME OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE CHANGES MADE WITHOUT SEEKING THAT APPROVAL.

NOW GOING FORWARD, THERE ARE GOING TO BE TIMES IN THE FUTURE WHERE MAYBE YOU GET HIT WITH A HURRICANE, SOME OTHER TYPE OF A NATURAL DISASTER, MAYBE IT'S ANOTHER PANDEMIC, JUST BEFORE AN ELECTION.

BASED ON WHETHER IT'S A REPUBLICAN IN POWER OR A DEMOCRAT IN POWER THAT YOU HAVE SOME GOVERNOR, SOME SECRETARY OF STATE OR SOME ELECTIONS COMMISSIONER UNILATERALLY MAKING HUGE, CONSEQUENTIAL CHANGES.

I BELIEVE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION WAS WRITTEN PURPOSELY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED AND RESPECTED AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAD‑‑ THAT WAS MY BIGGEST ISSUE THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

>> I THINK THAT ISSUE PROBABLY ISN'T GOING TO GO AWAY.

ANOTHER ISSUE THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY IMMEDIATELY AT LEAST IS CRIME IN NEW YORK.

I THINK THAT WE COVERED COST OF LIVING ALREADY.

SO WHAT'S YOUR PLAN TO HE DEUCE CRIME?

THAT'S LIKE THE BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW IN NEW YORK CITY, CITIES LIKE ROCHESTER, ALBANY, BUFFALO.

HOW DO WE GET THAT CRIME RATE DOWN?

>> WE SHOULD REVERSE CASHLESS BAIL.

WE SHOULD KEEP QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

WE SHOULD BE PROUDLY SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY SELFLESSLY, COURAGEOUSLY DO AN IMPORTANT JOB.

IF THERE'S A BAD ACTOR WHO DOES SOMETHING WRONG, THE SYSTEM SHOULD CRACK DOWN ON THAT PERSON WHO DID THE WRONG THING.

THERE SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND I WAS RAISED IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT HOUSEHOLD AND I FOUND THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WANTS TO HOLD THEIR OWN ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THAT PERSON DOES THE WRONG THING.

NOW I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A BILL OF RIGHTS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ENACTED AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THEIR INHERENT RIGHT OF SELF‑DEFENSE.

YES BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE CHANGING THE USE OF FORCE LAWS THEY WANT TO SAY THAT NECESSITY IS NOT ENOUGH OF A STANDARD.

THEY WANT TO CHANGE THAT STANDARD.

I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE THE RESOURCES AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS AS EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE UNFAIRLY TARGETED BY INVESTIGATIONS.

I BELIEVE THAT THEIR TRAINING SHOULD BE AS EFFECTIVE AS IT CAN BE.

I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE BUILDING TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS.

THERE'S A HUGE, POSITIVE, DIRECT BENEFIT TO PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN YOU LEAN INTO THAT WHEN YOU WORK ON BUILDING TRUST.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS A BIG ISSUE FOR MANY NEW YORKERS.

FROM THE NEW YORKERS I'M HEARING FROM, THEY TELL ME IT'S THEIR NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

>> YES.

I THINK THAT'S TRUE ACROSS THE STATE.

I HOPE, HONESTLY, THAT'S IT'S NOT AN ISSUE NEXT YEAR.

I HOPE OUR CRIME RATES DO GO DOWN.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN, THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE FOR NEW YORK GOVERNOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH >> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> AS OF NOW AS WE TOLD YOU, ZELDIN IS FACING A PRIMARY HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR.

BUT THAT COULD CHANGE IN THE MEANTIME AS WELL.

BUT COMING BACK TO NOW, WE SAW THE FIRST PAYMENTS OF THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT GO OUT THE DOOR THIS WEEK.

DARRELL CAMP IS HERE WITH MORE.

DARRELL?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, DAN.

IN RESPONSE TO THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, FEDERAL LAWMAKERS PASSED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN EARLIER THIS YEAR.

A PART OF THAT PLAN WAS AN ENHANCEMENT OF THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT THIS WEEK.

THAT ALLOWS HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN TO RECEIVE MONTHLY PAYMENTS THROUGH DECEMBER BASED ON THEIR INCOME AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE.

THE CAP FOR THOSE PAYMENTS IS A TOTAL OF $3,600 FOR CHILDREN UNDER SIX AND $3,000 FOR CHILDREN 6 TO 17 YEARS OLD.

HALF OF THE MONEY WILL BE PAID IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS THROUGH DECEMBER WITH THE OTHER HALF COMING WHEN 2021 TAXES ARE FILED.

CONGRESSMAN PAUL TONKO HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE FULLY REFUNDABLE CREDIT.

>> AND SO THE CORRESPONDING BENEFITS THAT WE GET WITH BETTER PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL, BETTER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN, FINAL CAREER PATHS THAT ARE STRENGTHENED, ALL OF THIS IS A STRONG SERIES OF DYNAMICS THAT SPEAK POSITIVELY TO DOING THIS BILL AND THIS PROGRAM AND MAKING IT PERMANENT.

>> TONKO SAID OPPOSITION TO THE ENHANCED CREDIT FELL ROUGHLY ALONG PARTY LINES, BUT HE IS HOPING TO CONVINCE OPPONENTS OF THE LONG‑TERM BENEFITS.

>> WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN CONGRESS.

THANK YOU, DARRELL, FOR THAT REPORT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

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